NHTSA Complaint #10124529 — 2005 TOYOTA PRIUS

REPORTED INCIDENT TO TOYOTA CUSTOMER SUPPORT -- INCIDENT: 050412-000111 RESPONSES RECEIVED FROM TOYOTA WAS THAT THE COMPUTER WAS FIXED BASED ON A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN. NO RECURRENCE SINCE THE FIX. TO: TOYOTA CUSTOMER SUPPORT SIR OR MADAM: I BOUGHT MY 2005 PRIUS NEW FROM MECHANICSVILLE TOYOTA ON DECEMBER 1, 2004 AND GENERALLY WAS QUITE SATISFIED WITH THE CAR AND THE GREAT GAS MILEAGE IT PROVIDES. HOWEVER, LAST THURSDAY, 4/7/05, WITH 4738 MILES ON THE ODOMETER, WHILE DRIVING HOME FROM WORK, ALL THE LIGHTS ON THE DASH WENT ON INCLUDING THE MASTER WARNING LIGHT, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT, VSC LIGHT, AND THE MULTI INFORMATION DISPLAY IS SHOWING THE RED HYBRID SYSTEM WARNING LIGHT. THE CAR LOST POWER AND I HAD TO LIMP IT HOME. THE ENERGY CONSUMPTION DISPLAY FOR THE BATTERY PACK SHOWED ONE RED BAR AND THE FUEL GAUGE HAD TWO BARS LEFT. I CALLED TOYOTA ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE WHICH PROMPTLY DISPATCHED A TOW TRUCK AND DELIVERED THE CAR TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER DID A DIAGNOSTIC TEST THE FOLLOWING MORNING, FRIDAY, 4/8/05, AND COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG. THE ONLY EXPLANATION I GOT WAS THAT THIS IS A KNOWN ISSSUE WITH 2 BARS OF FUEL LEFT AND THE CAUSE WAS THAT THE ENGINE SUCKED IN AIR WITH STOPS OR TURNS. IS THERE A FURTHER EXPLANATION OR FIX FOR THIS PROBLEM? I FEEL THAT THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE. I CROSS RAILROAD TRACKS TO AND FROM WORK DAILY AND DEFINITELY WILL NOT WANT THIS CAR TO STALL ON THE TRACKS OR ANYWHERE ON THE ROAD. MY WIFE AND I ARE A MULTIPLE TOYOTA OWNERS: 95 CAMRY WAGON AND 93 PREVIA. I USED TO OWN AN 83 TERCEL AND MY WIFE AND STEP DAUGHTER HAVE AND STILL OWN A 96 TERCEL. THESE CARS HAVE BEEN EXTREMELY RELIABLE SO THAT MY EXPERIENCE WITH THE PRIUS COMES AS A SHOCK. I LOOK FORWARD TO HEARING FROM YOU ON THIS SAFETY ISSUE. SINCERELY, APOLINAR ILOG GLEN ALLEN, VA EMAIL: [email protected]